Movie Reviews

When did the dub get good?!

Kimberly | 08/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Pokemon since the start, and during all that time, I have recorded week-by-week, each and every episode, while hoping that someday I'd get to see an official release of the uncut, uncensored original Japanese Pocket Monsters episodes with English subtitles, as I've read online about all the dialog changes, deleted scenes, paint-overs, and banned episodes. And as the tapes began to pile up in my collection, I always said I'd save my money for the subs, and that I'd never actually buy the English dubs. So in an age when my VCR(/DVD player combo) seems like it may be the only one left in the world, still my collection still consists of VHS recordings. But about halfway through last season (Battle Dimension), my VCR began to show its age and the recording were coming out with skips and lines on the screen, and even after recording many of the episodes over (including the newest Pokemon movie "Giratina and the Sky Warrior", which I also just purchased for the same reasons as the episodes listed below), it still seemed like both the tapes and the machine just wouldn't last forever.

Meanwhile, Pokemon DVD box sets of both the newest (Battle Frontier, Diamond & Pearl) and earliest (Indigo League) episodes were being released, and still no subtitles, which is so frustrating when there are aisles of other anime being sold with bilingual recordings (English/Japanese) in stores. I admit, I have seen a few fansubs online, and with the exception of Team Rocket's occasional (and annoying) "self-awareness" (or talking to the viewers) in English, the dub has become surprisingly accurate and in tact. Suddenly episodes like "Crossing Paths", "Pika and Goliath", "Chim-Charred!" (all from this box set) were some of the best I've seen in any language, and the thought the tapes (containing these and other recent episodes) becoming damaged had me asking for the first time, "When did the dub get good?"

I do have to warn all potential buyers of the misinformation that is printed on the back of this Box Set (#2). Despite the mention of "Pokémon Ranger" and "Hunter J" on the box set (but strangely not the individual volumes that list the episodes), the two-part episode to which this refers "Pokémon Ranger and the Kidnapped Riolu" IS NOT INCLUDED ON THIS COLLECTION!! It was later released as part of the THIRD DP Battle Dimension Box Set (with Brock on the cover); volume 6 to be exact (the individual disc with Happiny on the cover).

REGARDING BOTH BOX SETS 2 and 3:After being a Pokemon fan for so many years, DP Battle Dimension (season 11) was by far the best overall season yet. Our hero Ash's devotion and passion to protect Pokemon shines brighter than ever opposite his heartless rival Paul and cruel Pokemon hunter J...these box sets worth every penny, in plain English. "

Pokemon Battle Dimension vol. 3 and 4

Paul Jutras | Florida, USA | 08/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Diamond and Pearl seasons I think are the best seasons since the original Johto League ones. Set 2 of Battle Dimentions has some of the best episodes among them with Ash and crew meeting a Pokemon magician, entering Brock's Crogunk into a contest, repeatingly trying to get a hometown gym battle only to have the gym leader always gone making the group finding other contests to be involved in like the fashion show or when Dawn and Ash's former battle frontier companion May battle it out for best corindator. Even some surprising bits like James and Brock agreeing on cordinator costumes and Jessie caring enough about her Pokemon to help Ash and the group help all pokemon in the area."